tcherlady

Hi, everyone. I'm sorry that I haven't checked in for a while. I hope that everyone that was banded is doing well. I had my surgery this morning. Everything went well. I feel fine except for the gas. I'm about to pop a gas x strip and see if it helps. Talk to you guys later. Arisa

Hi guys, I've been MIA for a little while. We started pre-planning on Monday. I have had about 5 hours total Monday-Thursday to work on setting up my room. All of our other time has been filled up with meetings! I found myself working straight through lunch every day this week! I found out that I will have 11 students this year and still only one para . Pray for me! This will be a challenge. I'm doing my best to set my the zone plan, student picture schedules, and lesson plans for the month of August before I leave. Besides skipping lunch, my pre-op plan has been going pretty well. I have been sticking to the plan with the exception of a bowl of raisin bran and a greek yogurt a day. I'm gonna cut that out starting now. But, on a good note. I know that this last week and a half will fly by since I will be busy at work. I am getting more and more excited every day! Good luck to you all. Arisa

Michelle...I hear you about the Protein shakes! It is very hard at first to only do the shakes, meat and veggies! It's like detoxing from all of the junk. And protein shakes aren't the best tasting drinks :blushing: Hang in there! You can do this. WildBill...Michelle is doing it, but she has help at work. In my opinion, you just have to make sure that you are taking it easy. You will probably be on liquids for the first too weeks so, you will be a bit week. I've also heard that most people sleep a lot for the first few days. So, maybe try to ease your way into daily activities. Also, my doctor prescribed hydrocodone for me after surgery, I plan to only take it for the first few days (if all goes well). If you are on something with hydrocodone or something similar, please don't drive while you are on it. Good luck! Keep us posted.

I totally don't blame you for not waiting till Christmas! I wouldn't be able to do that either! I think you will be just fine considering that your kids won't come till the 23rd, you had then last year, they are potty trained and you have good help. You'll be just fine. I'm so excited for you! Hopefully you will feel like updating us at least a few days after surgery, because I'll be anxious to hear about it! I'm sooooo excited!

I'm actually getting a little worried about you going back to work too soon also. Let me tell you why. I originally was going to go back to work 6 days after surgery. I was just going to use sick days and get some documentation from my surgeon to back it up. Ok, so when I went to my principal with this request. She gave me paperwork to take to the surgeon's office (family medical leave stuff). The surgeon's office recommended TWO WEEKS OFF!! I was very surprised. I got some clarification yesterday though. Two weeks is a good time period because 1. I have to be on a liquid diet right after surgery and I may not have enough energy to keep up with the kids while on a liquid diet. 2. Between 10-14 days post-op is when they schedule your post-op appt. It's "safer" to have the Dr. check out your incisions and make sure that everything is healing properly and that there are no complications, before you go to a job where you are up and down, bending, and stuff like that...using your core. So, I am gonna take the two weeks and after 7 days my short term disability insurance will kick in. But, then again you have pre-planning. That buys you some time. When do your students start school? I know that special needs pre-k students are a handful, especially when they are adjusting to a new environment, at the beginning of school. At my school, the sped pre-k kids start a full week later than the other students. Is this the case at your school? I really think you should consider asking your surgeon his opinion. I want you to be ok. Also, on a different note, my surgeon mentioned yesterday that he will do the single incision surgery if requested! So, I requested! He said that the single incision is through the belly button and is basically undetectable. Hallelujah! Sorry this is so long! Talk to you soon. Arisa

I'm glad that we met too :smile:. I had my pre-op appt today where I had a nutrition class, met with the surgeon and did pre-op registration and bloodwork at the hospital. So, that was the last office/hospital visit before the big day! I'm nervous, but excited. I'm gonna officially start the pre-op diet on Tuesday. I still feel like I need (want) to eat stuff like cheesecake, chicken pot pie, lots of stuff. But, since I was weighed today, I guess I need to be trying to make sure I lose a little weight before surgery day! No cheesecake for me! :cursing: I need to just move on towards my new life. So, they said do 2-3 Protein drinks and 2 meat and veg meals so maybe i can just splurge on filet mingnon and crab legs :drool:. As for protein, I have EAS vanilla but I'm not sure if it is Advantage Edge. My dr. doesn't really care as long as it's isolate whey and at least 20 g protein per serving. Also, this link has recipes for Protein shakes that sound really good. There isn't any calorie info though. And there are ingredients that we probably shouldn't have during the pre-op diet. It just sounds yummy! http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f9/absolutely-best-protein-shakes-117572/ Let me know how the diet is going once you start. We'll get through this phase as long as we keep our eyes on the prize!:wub:

I have been getting these emails from this thread that I applied to...August 2010 Anyone? So, I was reading over those responses and recognized your username. How about I am being banded by True Results in Atlanta! Not only that but we have similar starting weights and heights (I'm 5'7 & 300 lbs). Good grief, what's next...lol? Anyway, you asked where I am from. I've always lived in or near Atlanta. Right now I live in Mcdonough, Georgia. About the pre-op diet. Officially I am supposed to start on Aug.3rd. But, I'm pretty much doing it right now. I have to do 2 meals (meat & veggie) and two Protein shakes daily. I've been experimenting w/ Protein Shakes and just figured out how to make it taste good :-) I'm doing either vanilla or chocolate Protein powder mixed with a level teaspoon of sanka instant decaf coffee. Good stuff! Are you starting your pre-op diet soon? Also, I bought some baby spoons and sippy cups to kinda get the feel of what it's like to slow down a bit. Really the baby spoon is kinda interesting. It kinda makes me savor food more instead of shoveling it in! Anyway, it felt funny buying the "baby" stuff because my "baby girl" is thirteen and I only have one! Even though she has her "teen" moments, she is still "my love", as you say :-) Arisa

Wow! We do have a lot in common . I teach kids with Moderate Intellectual Disabilities (grades 3-5). My friend teaches Special Needs Pre-K next door to me, so I know that you work hard. That reminds me of something. Please be very careful not to lift your little ones after surgery. I don't know how you feel about this, but maybe consider letting your para know that you can't lift over ten pounds until you heal completely. Hopefully you work with some supportive folks! Heck, hopefully I will be working with someone supportive next year because we have our challenging moments in my room too...lol. Anyway, may I add you as a friend? Maybe we can support each other through this. Arisa

You are a teacher right? I think you should be ok going back for pre-planning. I think the main thing is not to be trying to drive if you are on heavy duty meds. So, you may have to white-knuckle it or take some liquid tylenol if you are in pain during your first few days back. Also, if you are an elementary teacher, especially pre-k-3rd you have some major setting up to do in your classroom. If so, maybe see if you can come in for a day or two before surgery to set up your classroom before hand. This is just my two cents. My surgery isn't until Tues. Aug.17th and we go back for pre-planning on Aug 2nd. How about that? I'll be absent during the second week that that the students are back! So much for setting up routines...lol.

Hi, everyone. I'm Risie from Atlanta. I'm 31 years old, single and have a 13 year old daughter. I'll be banded by Dr. Titus Duncan from True Results on August 3, 2010. I started this process in October 2009 (weight loss seminar) weighing 306 lbs. I am 5'7 and weigh 300 lbs (BMI 47) right now. I have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Here is my weight loss journey. October 2009 - Seminar December 2009 - PCP appt to discuss LAP-BAND®® January 5, 2010 - Started 6 month doctor supervised diet January 11, 2010 - Started 6 month counseling February 27, 2010 - Psychological Evaluation June 12, 2010 - Finished 6 month counseling June 18, 2010 - Cardiac Clearance June 23, 2010 - Finished 6 month doctor supervised diet June 23, 2010 - Submitted to insurance company July 2, 2010 - APPROVED July 7, 2010 - Endoscopy July 28, 2010 - Meet surgeon and pre-op August 3, 2010 - Surgery Day